Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



Mayr29, 1923.

' J. F. OCONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABsoRBING MEGHANISM Filed July l2, 1920 IIIIL `'Patented May 29, 1923.

* Y f eine JOHN F. ocoimon, or` CHICAGO, .IL LrNoIs, AssGNoRfrowiLrIAivr fri. Minen, or j cHAzxcNnW Your;l v

"rRIc'rro-1I,r srtocK-nBsoRBING'MEcHAivrsivI. I

` Applicativi i inea :nity 1,2,

` Be it known that l, JOHN FQCo'Nnon,

a 4citizen of the United States, residingat Chicago, in the county of Cook` andState 5 oflllinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Friction 'Shock-Ab- Vsorbing Mechanisms, of which the following is a full, clear, concise,`and exact descrip'- tion, reference being had to theaccompanyl0 ing drawings, forming a part of this speci'- fication. i n

This inventiony relatesto improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanisms.

.The object ofthe invention is toprovide improved means lfor facilitating the release of the movable `friction elements ofa friction shock absorbing mechanism, especially a friction shock absorbing mechanism em- I ploye'd lfor use in railway draft riggings. In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a horizontal longitudinal sectionalvview of a portion' of a railway Vdraftrigging showing my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 ofv Figure 1.

lFigures 3 and fl are -detai-l perspectives o-fone ofthe frictionshoes and the'wedge, reg; sp'ectively. Figure 5 is a detailed View illus- 3 stop lugs l11K-11 and rear stop lugs 12-1-12.

A portion of a 'draw `bar is indicated'at 13, to which is connected a hooded cast yoke 14 by means of `a coupler key 15. Within the yoke is disposed a friction shock absorbing mechanism proper, hereinafter described, anda front follower 16. The yoke and associated movable parts are adapted tobe supported in position by a detachablesaddle plate17. i

The improved friction shock absorbing mechanism, as shown, comprises, broadly, a combined-friction shell and spring cage casting A; a main spring resistance B; a pair offriction shoes C-C; a wedge D; a spring vfollower E; anti-friction rollers'F--F interposed between the wedge and shoes; antitrating a friction shoe, a portion of a spring 1920. sriaiiruseaassf friction` elements f G-G l, interposed between andshoesv C; and a` vretainer thefollower' E bolt The casting A is yformedwith 'theffriction y shell proper 18 at fthe: forward end .thereofVV and .rearwardly y'with the springv cage proper 19, the rearend of thecage being closed so as to'provide agrearv follower 20 cooperable l with the stops 12. 'The lshell 18 isshownof substantially hollow'A square' box-like v.formy and 4is provided on its-"inner face with' an opposed'` pair Vof 'Y longitudinally l extending lfrictionl surfaces 214.21 ,which ymay ybe kThe frictionl sh ves Care oflikefconstruction -.and each is formed on yitsfo'uter side with a friction surface22rco-operable with 1 a co-operating friction surface Y21. On its innerside, each shoe C is "providedwith' a". j y relatively elongated roll" vseat 23, in. which are accommodatedpreferably a'` pair of. antifriction rollers F'the 'depthv of thel roll seat beingsuchasfto le'aveth'e rollersfeir'- y. tending outwardly 'beyond the surfaceof the shoe la slight distance so as'to engage the wedge D.

y`The wedge-Dl isfforined withalfpairjofwedging surfaces 2%2tfthe same being fiat so as to minimize .the lcostof manufacture. i l The wedge is preferably hollow to save metal andfha's 'openings 25 vand `26 therein,

lto permit the insertioiijof theretainer bolt H.

The spring Bisof common-form and coin-- prises anouter heavypco'il 27 'and a lighter inner'nested coil 28. 'Y y y,

The jf'ollower is of substantially cup shape "and has'anannular flange 29 against relatively o i "A which the'outer heavyjcoilfbears. the inner lighter coil bearing-against the inside bot-f -tom of the :cupportion' of thefollower.` On` the outer or forward sid'eof the Bange 29 are providedy aplurality of recesses orfseats" '3Q- 301m accommodate the' anti-frictioneleo men'tsfG, vand in,'Such'afmannerasto permit` the anti-friction zelements'G to ,roll'aliinited L `10() distance lradially" l inwardly and outward-ly.

lThe anti-friction elements G, as willy be apparent from an inspection -ofl Figure l, bear on the rear flat ends 31-of the shoes C. j Thelretainer bolt H extends through the rear wall of the casting A, through .the

spring, through a suitable opening in the` follower E and. through the wedge. The

function of the bolt H'is twofold; to hold I the parts in assembled relation and also to maintain the spring under an initial coinpression when desired.

Heretofore, it has been customary to have the inner ends of the friction shoes `bear directly on the surfaces of a follower interposed between the shoes and the spring, the follower being practically necessary in ,order to obtain a uniform resistance from the spring to the moreinent of the friction shoes. lVith such prior constructions, it is evident ,that considerable friction will occ-tir betr-reen .the bearing surfaces of such follower and the inner ends of the Lslices at the end ,of .the compressive stroke, the amount of friction depending Vupon the degree of clomvpression of the spring. Consequently .in initiating the release, said resistance interferes with the inwardly'ra-dial. movement vof the shoes away from the surfaces of the shell. By introducing anti-friction elements between the follower and the slices, thisresistr ance is reduced to a minimum, an.,d,j.con sequently, the .shoes are substantially lfree .to disengage themselves .at their inner ends from the shell, or, at least finove in\`yanelly :toward .eachother vas the friction shell conltracts after ,the actuating pressure vfis yremoved. The anti-friction elements Gare especially adyantageous where ,the friction l"shell lis slightly tapered, since in actual prac- Atice it is found that. with a slightly tapered .friction shelhthe latter will expand slightly `during the compressive V,action into a cylinder ,of substantially ,non-tapered form and during therelease will contract to its normal form. It will be understood by those skilled l ,in thel art that the anti-,friction elements Gr )may be in the form of either' rollers or balls. n

'In the construction illustrated in Figure 5, j the inner' ends ofthe friction shoes are `inclined inwardly andl reari'vardlj/J. Yas indicated at 140,'so that .the pressureY transmitted from the spring through the followerf, and fanti-infraction velements 1G .will 'be against the innerends of the slices k i ontwardly conyerging lines. 'Obriouslyfthis method of transmitting Ithe `forces ,from ,the spring nto theinnerends of theshoeswill increase -the releasing effect, (since there :a definite tendency to pull lthe Vinnerhendsof ,the shoes away from the shell.y

although lfliaye `herein shiwn :and t,described what I nofwkconsider the lpreferred manner :0f Carrying ,ont the invention; the ,same is merely illustrative and I ,contemplate all changesfa-nd ,modications that come within the 4scope ,of the ,claims appended 4hereto.

'anrh he inner 'endslofysaid shoe I claim:

1,- 111 ,a fl'efen Sheek .e-bSQrbr-s mecha" nism, the combination with the member having` vlongitudinally extending lfriction surfaces; of friction shoes slidable on and c'ooperable with said vfriction surfaces, said shoes having inwardly converging faces at V their inner ends; wedge acting means for pressing'said shoes into frictional Contact withsaid member; a spring resistance; a follower interposed between said spring resistance and the shoes, `said follower, on its side adjacent the shoes having bearingseats; and ller anti-friction nica-ns interposed between .said follower bearing seats and the converginneifaces `of said shoes.

2. frictionl shock `absorbing`- mechanism, the coignbination with a tion shell; of friction vshoes co-,operable therewith, the

shoes .inwardly kcon.verging`.faceswat their inner ends; ya, wedge anti-friction elements Vinterposed between the wedge and the slices; a spring resistance; a follower at 'the end ,of :the ,spring a'd1acent the shoes; and v,anti-friction rolling' elements' interposed between said follower andsaid inner tend yfaces n.

of the shoes;

3. In a frictionshock absorbing mechanism, the combination kilvithwa'friction shell havinginterior friction' surfaces; of a central ywedge 4member proyided with tinwardly conyerging l'fiat Ycontinuous 'wedge faces; friction slices coovperable with saidshell and said fcentral wedge member, said slices naying inwardly converging faces,i said faces ,be ing ,p Yided Wilh antlifriction roller' retainingfseats, han/ing stop shoulders at op- I,posite i ends, 'l said shoes valso, liaying their in ner vends proyided with flat `bearingfaces; 'entrfreten tellers housed ,Within said-seats, lwoo-acting with `said 'ep tin'iiiusflit ite posed between"said spring resistance p I ,said follower havingV a plurality of antifriction roller receiyinglseatsou the side thei'eo adjacent ithe inneifends ofsaid shoes,r il Ahaying,stop shoulders atopposite ends; rand a plurality,of anti-"friction rollers housed in said seats l,and co-acting Vwith said endl flat ,bearingtfaces Aof said shoes. y

In lwi vness that cla-un ,l v y to,subscribedniy,i der QfJime, ..1920

c JOHN n occasion have heren me this 18th Witnesses i CARRIE GAILING, UNA C GRIGSBYJ the ,foregoing I 0e faces gja spring'resistan e 'a follower v,each of said seats 'Y 

